More stations, better auditing: monitoring focus in CAQM plan, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) released the State Action Plan 2026 for the National Capital Region (NCR), aiming to reduce PM2.5 levels by 15% and PM10 levels by 20%.
• City-wide action plans were released for Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Alwar.
• Delhi is behind its targets under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), achieving only a 16% reduction in PM10 against a 22% target.
• The plan focuses on strengthening air quality monitoring by increasing the number of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in Delhi from 40 to 46 by January 2026.

Detailed Insights:

• The NCR state governments prepared their action plans and shared them with the CAQM.
• In January, Delhi was the second most polluted city in the country with PM2.5 levels at 169 µg/m3, after Ghaziabad at 184 µg/m3, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
• Audits of existing monitoring stations have been initiated, and online continuous emission monitoring systems are being expanded across industrial units.
• Transport and mobility interventions, including the expansion of the Delhi Metro and Namo Bharat (RRTS) network, are a major part of the proposed actions.
• Strengthening pollution control boards is planned, with most sanctioned posts already filled.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PM2.5: Fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
• PM10: Inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller.
• NCAP (National Clean Air Programme): A central government initiative to tackle air pollution.
• CAAQMS (Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations): Stations that continuously monitor ambient air quality.